BHP has renewed its ongoing partnership with Lifeline WA and supported the development of a new telehealth service for women living in Port and South Hedland.
The first of the Big Australian’s most recent community support initiatives began with a $200,000 investment towards Lifeline’s 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.
As demand for mental health support services grows, BHP’s funding will enable Lifeline WA to recruit, train and deploy 50 crisis supporters to offer crucial support for persons experiencing a personal crisis or thinking about suicide.
“The training that goes into giving a person the skills to help someone survive their darkest hour is long and complex, involving many months of intense professional supervision,” Lifeline WA chief executive officer Lorna MacGregor said.
“BHP’s donation is integral to helping us achieve that goal so that more calls are answered.”
BHP previously donated $200,000 to Lifeline WA in October 2023 and $300,000 in April 2020.
To speak to one of Lifeline’s crisis supporters, call 13 11 14.
BHP has also shown its support for women living in the Port Hedland area through its partnership with the Hedland Well Women’s Centre (HWWC) and Perth-based Luma: for her Health and Wellbeing.
The initiatives provide the Hedland community access to general practitioners (GPs) specialising in women’s health, located in Luma’s Perth-based offices.
BHP’s support has allowed for the purchase and installation of upgraded IT systems, including advanced cyber security programming, internet satellite upgrades and telehealth equipment for the implementation of the new telehealth service.
The new delivery model will address the shortage of specialised women’s health services available in the Pilbara.
Initially commenced as a six-month pilot, the telehealth program will offer up to sixteen appointments per month to women in the Hedland area.
“It will increase the capacity and offering of GP services in Port and South Hedland, specifically focusing on services which are in high demand for women,” Hedland Well Women’s Centre chief executive officer Kianna Barker said.
“This is an important advancement in providing accessible high-quality specialised healthcare to women in the Hedland community.”
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